Disclaimer: I do not own any characters created by J.K. Rowling.

Author's Note: I am very sorry for the lateness of this update. Over the last month now I have been suffering with some horrible symptoms that leave my left leg and arm in agonising pain for long periods of time. Naturally, this makes it difficult to write freehand let alone type. I will be taking my time from this point on and keep plugging away at my stories in the intervals where I AM pain free.

Just waiting on a brain scan appointment!

B x

Chapter Twenty-Three

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The last few days of December were a nightmare of emotional upheavals. Draco had caught a snippet of Remus and Sirius arguing in the study and had caught the phrase 'Andi would welcome the extra income!' and then 'You can't keep throwing her in my face!' He'd hurried off before he overheard anything else that made his stomach feel ill.

Harry had stuck to Draco like a little shadow, his new stuffed dragon clutched tightly to his middle as they went about their daily business. From the crumpled frown on his small face, Draco understood that the child was feeling the tension seething away between his cousin and Lupin. Still, Draco did his best to be cheerful about it all. It helped that there were so many new toys for Harry to play with and, for once, Draco didn't resist the distraction.

It was on the twenty-eighth of December, an unremarkable day, when Draco heard the distant roar of the floo from the lounge. Remus and Sirius were upstairs somewhere, a rare calm in the thrashing waves that usually accompanied them since Christmas Day. One of them could greet their guest.

For his part, Draco was in his potion's lab in the cellar. He had prepped two cauldrons off to one side for the Polyjuice potion, however at present he was more interested in introducing Harry to the basics with beginners brewing-kit. All things considered; Harry was doing rather well. The first few lessons were about making different types of gooey messes, but it did help to teach the precision required for measuring ingredients. Watching the little tongue poking out in concentration, Draco couldn't deny he was rather proud.

"Hello! Draco? Harry?"

Draco froze at the sound of Hermione's voice. When they had spoken on boxing day about brewing Polyjuice, she had asked if he minded her popping in to help with the brewing. He'd said 'no' but hadn't anticipated her returning so soon. The door to the cellar opened and Draco tried his best not to grimace.

Weasley was here too.

"I … uh … hadn't expected you to come back so soon," he managed to say.

Hermione looked a little sheepish as she came down into the cellar. Weasley glanced around, barely containing the discomfort he felt, as he followed his girlfriend down. Even still, he towered over all of them. Hermione broke the silence with a forced cheery voice, "I hope we haven't interrupted anything, but I haven't been able to think about anything at all since we had the idea."

Weasley rolled his eyes and Draco had to suppress the urge to do the same.

"I've prepped two cauldrons to make some batches, that should be enough to start out with," he said, absently gesturing to the two cauldrons on the other side of the room. "I just wanted to finish this experiment with Harry."

"Oh yes! Sirius mentioned you got him a potions kit," she came over to the counter Harry was perched on. "How is it, Harry? Are you having fun?"

"Yah!" he grinned, "We already made the purple goo! This one's hard though …" he frowned down at the small vials clutched in his hands.

"Isn't he a bit young for that?" Weasley frowned, finally braving the distance and glancing into the boxed-up pieces of the kit. "Oh, I remember this! Mum got this for me when I was eight! Didn't really like it though."

"Potion's isn't everyone's forte," Draco stated. "Harry did well in sixth year -I always wondered what would happen if he had a bit more guidance and less being-hunted-by-a-madman."

Weasley snorted. "Harry's hated potions since day one!"

"Because of Snape," Draco retorted. "I did well in potions, and I respected the man …" he trailed off, the lump in his throat swelling even bigger. He pushed against it. "We tend to fail in the subjects we have bad experiences with."

"You know he cheated right?"

"What?" he snapped his head to look at Harry, who was watching them all with wide, uncomprehending eyes. "When? How?"

"Sixth year," Weasley said. "He had Snape's old potions book. Was covered in notes from when he was at school. That's how Harry got so good at potions."

"The one time Snape managed to teach him something, and not only is it through a bloody book that I DIDN'T GET, but also the same year he doesn't even HAVE Snape as a teacher!"

Draco's frustration seemed to let Weasley loosen up enough that he leaned against the countertop and peered into Harry's children-sized cauldron. Draco gave a frustrated sigh and smoothed his hair back into place. He caught Hermione glancing at his open notebooks and resisted the urge to slam the books shut.

"How have things been?" he forced himself to ask, keeping his eyes focused on Harry. "At the Burrow?"

Hermione hummed and shrugged, "As good as it can be, I suppose. Things blew up a little when we found out that Ginny had stopped going to see the grief councillor at school."

Draco winced. "Ah … I hadn't realised she was seeing one."

"Most of the students do," Weasley said. "It's not mandatory of course, but given what happened last year …"

"And your sister stopped going? Just like that?"

"Apparently so."

"Do you see a therapist, Draco?" Hermione asked.

"I … yes. Yes, I do. She's helped, I think. She keeps pushing me to talk about the war and it's just -there's no good that can come of it. Not right now, anyway."

"But Draco surely you're in a better mindset to try and deal with those things now?" Hermione frowned.

"I don't believe so," he replied tartly. "It'll happen when it happens, on my terms and no one else's. I've been dealing with things a little at a time and that's the pace I'm most comfortable right now."

Weasley exchanged a look with Hermione. Whatever silent conversation they were having, seemed to come to a mutual agreement. "Would you be able to give me the name of that therapist?" he asked. "For Ginny? Maybe she just doesn't like the one at school, I don't know." He shrugged helplessly, and Draco found himself nodding.

"Of course. Just remind me before you leave."

The atmosphere turned somewhat stifling. Draco unbuttoned the top button of his shirt and rolled up his sleeves like he was want to do when brewing potions. "Okay, I think that's enough for today Harry," he said cheerfully as he ruffled the child's black hair. Harry pouted but nodded. "Now, who do you want to write the label, me or you?"

"You," Harry grinned. "Your handwriting is nicer than mine."

Draco chuckled, "Alright, now you remember how to pour it into the bottle, like I showed you?"

"Y-e-e-e-s Draco."

"Good boy."

As soon as Harry presented Draco with a decently stoppered vial of the goo, Draco stuck the label on and then lifted Harry off the counter. "Are you okay to go up to your room and read for a little while? I need to talk to your friends for a bit."

Harry glanced up at all three of them before shrugging, "Okay. Can I do some colouring in?"

"Only if you pack the pencils away properly," Draco cautioned as Harry hurried out of the cellar.

"I will!" he shouted.

As soon as the kitchen door slammed shut, Draco turned to Hermione and Weasley with a sigh. "Okay, let's get as much done now so we can let the potion sit. If we do everything right, you two should be able to Polyjuice as Harry by the end of January."

~0~

New Years Eve was a loud enough affair. With an invitation extended to any of the Weasley's that wanted to come, Grimmauld place was soon alive with lights, laughter, and a lot of Molly's cooking. Everyone had turned up, although a few of the Weasley children decided to sit in a corner and were talking quietly amongst themselves.

Sirius had dropped Teddy off at Andromeda's who insisted she didn't want to be around all those people and the noise and music -she was much happier to have a quiet evening in with her grandson. She had stayed for a cup of tea before everyone had arrived and left before 7PM.

He was glad to see that Draco was very amicably talking with Ron and Hermione, he'd never thought he'd see that day. As drinks were poured and levity took hold of enough of them to banish the grey cloud hovering over them, the party got underway.

Harry was dressed in his smartest outfit, complete with a teeny bow-tie. He looked like a very dapper young man. Sirius noticed how, even when he was pulled to and fro by the Weasleys, Harry would eventually wonder over to Draco or to Sirius for the attention he preferred. Sirius found himself walking and joking around for about an hour, with Harry resting happily on his hip.

Settling Harry down in the sofa area with a plate of food and cup of juice, Sirius pressed a kiss to his cheek and said quietly, "Now if you get too tired, just come and let me know, okay?"

"Okay Daddy," Harry beamed up at him, already stuffing a sausage roll into his mouth. Sirius chuckled and ruffled his hair before straightening back up.

"Look after him okay?" he shot a warning look at the Weasley's currently seated on the sofa. Ginny, George, and Fleur nodded sagely. With a barely suppressed huff, Sirius turned to scan the room.

Everyone seemed to be having a good time. Someone had found the muggle game of 'Twister' and were trying to decipher the rules and whether they had to play entirely without magic. It was going to be a fun night, by all accounts.

His eyes wondered over the small mass of faces until they landed on Remus. His breath hitched at the sight of the other man, dressed in a rather worn out blazer and was deep in conversation with Arthur Weasley and his son, Bill. His present from Sirius still sat under the glittering Christmas Tree. He hadn't worked up the nerve to give it to the taller man yet and Sirius doubted if he ever would.

There was a 'thud' and a series of laughs as Percy, his girlfriend and Charlie Weasley collapsed on the floor laughing. Twister, at least, seemed to be a party favourite.

"Okay, who's up next?" Charlie asked loudly, his face flushed. A few amused faces glances at him but one volunteered. "Oh, come on! It's fun, honest!"

"We will!" Hermione volunteered, her face splitting into a grin as she grabbed both Ron and Draco by their jumpers and tugged them over in the direction of the polka dot mat.

"I don't think so, Granger," Draco struggled to wrestle away from her grip.

"Hermione you know I'm rubbish at these muggle games!"

"Oh, don't be silly Ronald!" she chided. "It's putting your hands and feet on coloured spots! It's not that hard."

Draco shot Sirius a pleading look as he was dragged across the room. Sirius raised his glass in a mocking toast to his cousin, as Hermione asked Charlie to spin for them. Letting his eyes circle the room again, Sirius tried his best not to look over at Remus, but he knew he was failing miserably. They had been arguing a lot lately and hadn't always been so quick to throw up a silencing charm. He knew Draco had gotten wind of the argument, at least, and he was grateful for his cousin for sufficiently distracting Harry during those times.

Harry had grown up with the Dursley's; he didn't need more childhood trauma piled on top of it.

A loud squeal made his head snap around, his muscles tense as he reached for his wand.

It took a moment for him to realise that what he was seeing was a good thing; George was standing in front of the sofa, with Harry dangling from his arm, his small arms barely reaching the floor before George whipped him right side up, and then drooped him down again. It wasn't just that though, why everyone was staring.

George was laughing.

It had been a long time since Sirius had heard that iconic laughter and, judging from the tears in Molly's eyes, he'd bet that no one had heard that sound since before the war. Sirius felt something warm and thick rush through him, tears coming to his own eyes. He felt proud that, somehow, Harry had reached into the darkness of George's mind and plucked him out of his own despair if only for a few moments.

Was this how James had felt when Harry had flown his first circuit on a broom in the living room?

Was this how Lily had felt when Harry had first called her 'mummy'?

A warm hand looped around his waist. He was stunned when he was pulled back against a warm, firm body. "One day you'll believe you're an amazing father," Remus murmured in his ear. Since when had he been able to take Sirius by surprise?

"Oh yeah?" he huffed. "That'll be the same day you believe I love you."

A sigh tickled the back of his neck. "Pads let's not do this here." A tug on the back of his jumper made him close his eyes and clench his jaw. "Come, I want to show you something."

Sirius reluctantly allowed himself to be backed away from the festivities. He cast one last look at Harry's pink cheeks and Draco in a compromising position underneath Ron's lanky frame, before following Remus into the hallway. As soon as the door closed, they were enveloped by the heavy, dark silence. Remus began making his way up the stairs, so Sirius was left no choice but to follow. They made it up to the second landing, before Remus walked into the bedroom they'd been sharing and waited for Sirius to follow.

The floating orbs shone to life, casting a mellow glow around the room. On the bed was a familiar present; the one Sirius had bought for Remus and left under the tree because he was too big a coward.

"I was wondering when you were going to give this to me," Remus said as he picked the present up, stroking the wrapping paper with his thumb. "I finally ran out of patience."

"So, open it," Sirius shrugged.

Remus pressed his lips together but obliged, neatly prying the paper away and revealing the smooth box inside. Popping the lid open, he gasped; inside on a blue velvet cushion shone a beautiful white-gold pocket watch with a slim chain. The face was a glossy midnight blue, almost black, and instead of numbers, there were different phases of the lunar cycle etched in moonstone.

"Sirius," Remus breathed. "This is so … How did you … I just … this is so beautiful."

Sirius inclined his head, "I saw it and I thought of you. I couldn't resist."

Remus stared between the man before him and the iridescent watch in his hands. "I don't think I've ever seen something so beautiful."

"This one is a special pocket-watch though," Sirius couldn't resist a brag. "When there's an eclipse, the face turns pitch black only the hands are visible. When there's a blood moon, the lunar cycle glows red."

"Do I even want to know how much this cost you?"

Sirius shook his head. "Think of it as a belated gift."

"For what occasion?"

"All the ones I missed while I was in Azkaban or when I was dead."

"When you were dead …" Remus breathed, his eyes staring at the watch without really seeing it.

Taking a breath, Sirius crossed the distance between them and placed his hands on Remus' shoulders. Amber eyes focused on him. "I'm here now Remus. That's what matters."

Something lit up in Remus' eyes. He set the box on the edge of the bed and, before Sirius knew it, the man's lips were on his own. He took him a moment for his brain to catch up, but then he was kissing Remus back, the fierce, pent-up energy rushing forward as he wrapped his arms tightly around the taller man, his nails digging into the layers of wool and savouring the gentle scratch of stubble against his cheek.

Remus cupped Sirius' jaw, one hand sliding up and into his thick, dark hair and clutching enough to make the older man hiss into the kiss, his lips parting enough for Remus to slide his tongue inside, tightening his old on Sirius.

Pulling away, their lips still touching lightly, Remus swallowed thickly. He shook his head; words were escaping him as he savoured the taste of Sirius. "I … I don't want to lose you again," he breathed.

Sirius smirked, "Like you could get rid of me that easily."

"I've lost so much …"

"So have I."

"I'm not strong enough. Or brave."

"You're the strongest man I know, Remus Lupin." Taking a risk, Sirius leaned up and brushed his lips of Remus' jaw and pressed a kiss near his ear. "The war is over. It's time to find something to be happy about. You deserve to be happy."

"So, do you …"

"Then stay."

"You make everything sound so easy," he shook his head.

"It won't be easy," Sirius conceded. "I won't push for more than you're comfortable with. I just want you to stay. I want to see where we could end up. I want us to be happy. To be a family."

"What if I screw up?"

"Then I'll make you some hot chocolate, watch whatever movie you like, and do whatever I physically can to make you see that mistakes happen and that's okay."

Remus felt every defence inside tremble and crack at the cadence of Sirius' voice. It couldn't be that easy to be happy, after everything, was it? With Dora gone … was it okay for him to be happy? To go to bed with a smile on his face?

Looking down into those bright grey eyes, Remus felt his breath hitch. Sirius entwined their fingers together and squeezed. "Come on. Let's go and join the party." He gave a gentle tug as he moved towards the door. A part of him wanted to kiss some more, but he could see that the cogs in his companion's brain were turning so fast smoke was bound to come out of his ears.

"Yes … the party … right."

Letting Sirius tug him back down the stairs, Remus tried to calm his nerves. As soon as he entered the lounge he felt as though every pair of eyes were on them, as if they could sense that he had kissed Sirius. He felt his cheeks grow warm. He resumed sitting in an armchair and did his best to focus on the game of Twister. George seemed fairly lively compared to how he'd arrived; he had Harry planted on his hip and he was giving George and running commentary of all his favourite books and TV shows.

George was smiling and laughing, listening to Harry with rapt attention.

Maybe it would be okay? Maybe being happy wasn't the worst thing in the world for him?

"Okay that's it, this time I'M the one doing the spinning!" came Draco's haughty voice as he untangled himself from underneath Charlie and Ron. His blonde hair was mussed, and his cheeks were pink.

And so the party continued; the adults drank very generous glasses of alcohol poured by Sirius, who seemed in a much better mood, George was more than happy to be in Harry's company and even gladly challenged the child in several games of Exploding Snap, and anyone who was brave enough decided to have a go at Twister.

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Harry was tuckered out by 11 o'clock and so Draco offered to put him to bed. When the blonde didn't return ten minutes later, Sirius hurried up the stairs to check on him. When he opened Harry's bedroom door, he felt his heart melt at the sight of Draco curled up on his side on top of the covers, with Harry cuddled up under his arm, the duvet pulled up to his chin. Quietly as he could, Sirius took a throw blanket from the end of the bed and gently draped it over the sleeping blonde. Leaning over, he pressed a gentle kiss to Harry's forehead.

Within the next hour Harry would start to fidget as the aging process resumed yet again.

Draco stirred and looked up just as Sirius was about to leave. "Sirius?" he hissed. "You okay?"

"Yeah. Are you … Do you want me to stay here with you?"

"No, you take care of him all the time. Go enjoy yourself. I'll be alright."

"Are you sure?" Sirius faltered for a moment. "Okay. Call me if you need anything, yeah?"

"Of course," Draco smiled tiredly, before dropping his head back onto the pillow.

Sirius smiled before slipping out of the room, casting an alarm on the ward should anything go wrong, before returning to the party downstairs. Midnight came with no alerts from upstairs, and by the time the last person left on the Knight Bus, Sirius could barely keep his eyes open. Staggering up the stairs, he barely managed to strip out of his clothes before falling into bed. He didn't object when he felt a warm, bare chest pressing up against his back, nor the strong arms wrapping around his waist. For the first time in weeks he drifted to sleep with a huge grin on his face.

A/N: Well that's the shortest update this story has had for a while. Apologies for the long wait. Be prepared that there will be a minute time jump in the next chapter.

B x